St. Matthias’ Anglican Church Windermere will celebrate and give thanks for the abundance of the season- the Harvest Festival- for all families in the surrounding community.
Service at 9am. Market starts at 11am.

You are invited to join us at this community event. Any donations of fresh fruit, vegetables, sauces, jams, chutneys, herbs, local wines etc would be greatly appreciated. ( Marg Hosford 6328 1163 for pick-up)

Any unsold fresh produce will be donated to the City Mission, and unsold preserves will be left for sale at the Holy Trinity trade table. Proceeds will go towards the work of the church.

Local wines, or vouchers from local commercial businesses, would be particularly appreciated for a competition hamper.

We are truly blessed in this beautiful and productive valley!
Come and celebrate with your community

History

Windermere, Tasmania, was named by an early settler, Dr Matthias Gaunt, who arrived in Van Diemen's Land with his family in 1831. Gaunt was granted 2 560 acres (1 000 hectares) of land on the East Tamar.

He chose not to practise medicine in the colony; instead he planted a vineyard and converted a sawmill to a flour mill. The mill was successful and its flour won a first place at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. Gaunt's success as a miller prompted a visit from Governor Sir John Franklin in 1842, who suffered the indignity of being covered in flour let loose by two of Gaunt's sons from a loft above.

Gaunt is said to have promised his wife Frances before leaving England that, if there were no church where they settled in the colony, he would build one and name it St Matthias. The result, completed in 1843, is the charming white stone church that overlooks the Tamar at Windermere. Gaunt's gravestone is prominent in the cemetery, along with those of other early East Tamar pioneers. For many years, parishioners living along the Tamar used boats to travel to services at St Matthias Church.

St Matthias is one of Australia's oldest continually used churches and currently is an outreach of the Parish of Holy Trinity Launceston under the Anglican Church. Services are held at 10.30 am on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month.